01.07.16
Great Western Class 800 takes maiden voyage
The first of Great Western Railway’s new Class 800 fleet, specially designed and built by Hitachi for the government’s £5.7bn InterCity Express Programme (IEP), took its maiden voyage yesterday.
The Class 800, one of a fleet of 57 designed and built by Hitachi, made a special trip from London to Paddington to mark 175 years since the opening of the Great Western Main Line.
It features more seats, greater legroom, free wi-fi, power sockets at each seat, LCD seat reservation indicators and increased space in overhead luggage racks.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, who was among the dignitaries riding on the train, said: “Britain’s railways have a glorious past and even brighter future thanks to the record amounts we are investing to modernise the network, deliver better journeys for passengers and drive economic growth.
“The unveiling of Great Western Railway’s first state-of-the-art IEP train offers a glimpse of the benefits passengers in the south-west and Wales will enjoy from 2017.”
Earlier this week, rail minister, Claire Perry MP, said that the decision on how to fund the conversion of the GWML Class 801 units to bi-mode operation will be made in the autumn.
Originally the Class 801 fleet was to be all electric, supported by 36 five-car bi-mode Class 800s, but last month, after receiving a formal submission from Agility Trains West, the train supplier, to convert the Class 801s to bi-mode operation, the DfT approved the decision.
The new trains are part of the biggest investment on the GWML since Brunel, including electrification of the line, which has experienced delays and spiralling costs.
The first section of the line, from Reading to Didcot, is being energised at the beginning of July following delays to the programme, but the initial completion dates have been delayed and there are ongoing concerns about the project going over budget. In the June/July edition of RTM we spoke to Network Rail’s Andrew Haynes about the work on the Great Western Route Modernisation programme, and how the team are now focused on sticking to the revised dates
The Class 800s, which are currently undergoing testing, are due to be introduced into service from next summer and will be used on services to London, Reading, Oxford, Swindon, Bath, Bristol and South Wales, as well as the north and south Cotswold lines.
They are part of a new generation of trains being unveiled after the new Govia Thameslink Class 700s went into service last week.
(Image c. Department for Transport)
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